milton



(No Model.)l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. T. WESTON.

GAROUSBL.

Patentedum. 19, 1897.

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(No Model.) s sheets-sheet s.

M. T. WESTON.

AROUSEL.

N0. 575,624.- l Patented Jan. 19, 1897.. liga. n 12g?.

U'IxrrrEn.1VVV Saafrns MILTON rWEsIoN, OE nENrON, orIIo, AssIeNoR To THE HALCYON OYOLE COMPANY, OFV

SAME PLACE.

CARO u sisi.,

SBFCIFIQATIONforrninggpart of Letters Patent, N o. V575,624, dated JanuaryV 1 9e,y 18,91?.

Application filed August Z2, 1894.

Total@ YLgf/1.0m t 71ml/ 0011.007110:

Be it known that I, MILTON. T. WESTON, of Kenton, in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio, have invented-anewandlinproved Ga-` rousel, of Whichthe following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

Myinvention relates to an improvement in merry-go-rounds or carousels;` and it has for itsobject to provide such a device in which 1o the 'frame and mast willk be tubular, andA Whereby'the mast may be adjusted to a vertical positionalthough the base of v the frame mayrestuponan uneven or inclinedsurface.

A further Object. ofthe invention is to pro- I 5 vide a siinplera'nd economic mea'nswhereby the machine maybe driven, and likewise to.l

. provide anindependent driving mechanism for each carriage" forming` a portion'of the machine, theumechanisin ofone carriage, al-

2o though stopped, or no matter how-worked, not interfering with'the movement of the machine as a Whole. 1

The invention consists` in the novel con.- struction and combination of the several parts, as will behereinafter.fully' set forth,

and pointedoutfin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine. FigLZ is a horizontal section taken through the mast just above the upper wheel 3 5 of the drum, illustrating two of thearms, one having the driving mechanism attached and the other the driving mechanism removed. Fig. 3 isv an inverted sectional plan view taken through the mast immediately below 4o the arm-supporting ring. Fig. 4 is av plan viewvofthe hub-plate adapted for attachment to the mast. Fig. 5 is asection through the said plate, taken practically on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. G is aplan viewof one ofthe hubspacingrings, Fig.'7isasectionthrough the ring, taken practically on lthe line? 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. S is a plan view offone of the Wheel-sections of the druln. Fig. 9 is auplan view of the finishing-ring of the drum, Fig.

5o 10 is a section through said'ring, taken essentially on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9. Figjll repre- Serial No. 520,970. (No model.)

sents, respectively, aside elevation and edge viewfof one of the segmentsv carriedy by the peripheral surface ofthe drum-wheel. Fig. 1:2 is a transverse section through one of the 55 said segments. Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the cap by means Offwhich theinovable parts ofl the machine are'supported upon the mast, the upper portionoi` the mast being shown in side elevation.V 14 isan edge Viewof- 6o one of the carriages provided with a bicycle seat or saddle an dadriving mechanism. Fig. 15 is a similari view'of a carriage adapted for the use of children, in which the driving mechanismis omitted. Fig. lGVis aplan view of the carriage shown in Fig. 15. Fig.' 17'l is a front elevation ofl a driving mechanism whereby an organ mayreceive'po'wer from theinovable.portions4 of the machine. Fig. 1S is an ejdgeview of the mechanism shown in 7o Fig.`17,.and`Fig.'19 is a sectionalviewof the drum.

vIn carrying out the invention the mast A is made up of a lseries of tubes l0,a'nCL the said tubes may be'of any length and of.V any 75 predetermined diameter, being ordinarily fourin number and grouped in substantially rectangular order in cross-section, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The mast-tubes are con-. nected atA the top bya coupling 11 and at the 8o bottom by a coupling 12, and at or near the center the tubes are further connected by a coupling A', which couplinglikewise serves as a hub-platefor a drum B, to be hereinafter described.

The cap-coupling 11 consists of a casing or v forging having a series of sockets correspond ing in number to 'the number of tubes employed in the construction of the mast, each socket receiving the upper end of the tube, 9o as shown best in Fig. 13, and this cap-coupling is provided with a pin 13, projected upward from its center. This pin isa pivot-pin for a -cap 14 of substantially conical construction and having an annular flange 15, flared in an upwardly direction, as is also shown in Figfl. This 'conical cap is provided with a bearing-block 16 of steel or other hard substanceyhaving a semicircular seat vto receive the correspondingly-shaped upper end of the ico said pivot-pin.

A number of supporting-rods 17 are attached to the flaring flange of the cap and carried downward at quite an inclination outward as to some, while others are at a less inclination. Fach of these rods is provided with a clamp 1S at its lower end, and the clamps are adapted `to receive and support in horizontal positions the carrying-arms C of the machine. Ordinarily, as shown, three supporting-rods 17 are connected with each arm, 011e near the inner and the other near the outer end, while the third is at a point intermediate of the ends, as is best shownin Fig. l.

'lhe arms C are connected with each other by horizontal braces l5), (shown in Figs. l and 2,) and likewise each arm is connected with a ring 20, which is of much greater diameter than the diameter of the mast, the ring being adapted to turn loosley around the mast. This ring is provided with a number of lugs projectedhorizontally from its periphery, the lugs corresponding in number to the number of carrying-arms C, each carrying-arm being bolted or otherwise secured to one of these lugs, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3. In this manner the under surface of the ring is smooth and uninterrupted; and this ring has guided movement around the mast by having its inner edge brought in contact with a series of friction-rollers 2l, pivoted upon the under face of the center coupling A or hub-plate, as shown in Fig. 3, the friction-rollers extending beyond the periphery of the plate or coupling. This coupling, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and likewise in Fig. 3, consists of a circular plate having a central opening 22, substantially corresponding in shape to the crosssectional shape of the mast, and Asleeves 23 are formed around apertures in vthe plate grouped around the central opening 22, and each sleeve-aperture is adapted to receive one of the tubes l0 of the mast, and, as shown in Fig. 1, the sleeves project beyond the lower face of the plate, each of them being provided upon their outer faces with ears 24.

' The circular plate comprising the central coupling A is likewise provided with a marginal rib or flange 25 upon its upper face, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The lower coupling l2 consists of a casting or forging, or a series of connected fittings, adapted to receive a number of horizontally-located basetubes 2G, and these tubes are connected with the sleeves of the central coupling by tubular connecting-rods 27, pivoted between ears 24 of the sleeves of the said central coupling; and the lower ends of the connecting-rods 27 are pivotally connected with ferrules 28, held to slide upon the base-tubes 26, being held wherever placed by set-screws or their equivalents.

Each arm is intended to carry suspended therefrom a carriage D. These carriages may be of any approved construction, and those that are shown in the drawings consist ordinarily of three uprights 29, connected at their upper ends with an arm, and in each compartment of the carriage, that is, between each of the uprights 29, a rearwardly-bowed horizontal bar 30 is located, as shown in Fig. 14, when the seat 3l is in the nature of a bicycle-saddle and is adjustable, the said bowed rod being supported by suitable braces 32. In this form of seat, when it is used, a crankshaft 33 is journaled in the lower ends of the uprights 29, and the shaft in each compartment of the carriage is provided with two crank-arms 34, having pedals applied, the crank-arms in one compartment of the carriage being at right angles to the crank-arms in the other compartment, as is clearly shown in Fig. l. Sundry of the carriages, however, may be constructed as shown in Figs. l5 and 1G and as shown to the left in Fig. 2, in which the seat 3l is made in the shape of a tricycle or carriage seat, and is adapted especially for the use of children, invalids, or persons who do not care to work the pedal-shafts. In this latter form of carriage the lower ends of the uprights 29 are forwardly curved in order that they may support, instead of a pedal or crank shaft, a foot-rest 35. In either event, however, the carriages are held preferably stationar Y, and this is accomplished by attaching to the back of each carriage a brace-bar 36, which is carried upward and rearward to an engagement with the next rear arm of the machine, an outward movement on the part of the carriages being prevented by a second brace or staying bar 37, secured to the inner side of the carriage and to the supportingarm thereof near its inner end.

I will next describe the construction of thc drum B, which is utilized to revolve the arms, power being applied to the pedal or crank shafts 33.

The drum is made up of a series of spacingrings 3S, (shown in Figs. G and 7,) a series of` wheels 39, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 8, and a capping or finishing ring 40, (illustrated in Figs. 9 and lO.) The spacing-ring is made angular or L-shaped in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 7, comprising thereby a vertical anda horizontal member. The vertical member of a spacing-rin gis provided with a series of inwardly-extendingapertured lugs 41, usually four in number and equally spaced, and the vertical member of each of the said spacingrings is further provided with a spring-controlled bolt 42, the bolt being normally acted upon by the spring in a manner to project the bolt through the vertical member of the ring and beyond the outer face of the said member. The finishing-ring 40 is of about the same diameter as the spacing-rin g and is of like construction, except that it is flat and the springcontrolled bolt 42 is omitted, said ring being perfectly plain and provided with inwardly-extending aperti-u red lugs 43. The wheels 39 of the drum are considerably larger in diameter than the spacing and finishing rings, since the vertical members of the spacing-rin gs are adapted to enter an opening 44 in the hub 45 of a wheel, the wall of the opening in the hub being provided IOO IIO

with a series of inclined recesses 46, whereby it has'a ratchet-like appearance. All the recesses incline in the same direction. A series of spokes 47 is projected from the hub 45 and connect with the rim 48 of the wheel. The wheel is provided with a tire made up of a series of segments 49. These segments are secured to the rim in'any desired manner.

Each segment is provided with a peripheral and preferably V-shaped groove 50 and with lugs 5l upon the side walls of the grooves, the lugs being alternately arranged, as shown particularly in Fig. 11.

In building up a drum one of the wheels is placed upon the hub-plate A', the flange 25 of said plate entering the opening 44 of the hub, and a spacing-ring 38 is placed upon the hub of the wheel, the vertical member of the ring entering the opening 44 in the hub of a second wheel, which is then placed upon the spacing-ring,and another spacing-ring placed upon the hub of this second wheel, and this arrangement is continued until a number of wheels 39 have been placed in rotating order around the mast corresponding to the number of supporting-arms C employed. Finally, the finishing-ring 40 is placed upon the uppermost wheel, and bolts are then passed through the lugs 41 and 43 of the spacing and finishing rings, and also preferably through the hubplate A. In this manner all the rings are connected and are stationary, as is likewise the hub-plate, while the Wheels of the drum will be held stationary as soon as the bolts of the spacing-rings contact Withthe straight end walls of the recess 46 of the wheel-hub in which it may have entered; but if the wheels are turned in an opposite direction they will readily move around the mast in like manner as a pawl will slip over a ratchet when traveling over the inclined faces of its keeper. In the operation of the machine, however, the wheels of the drum will be turned in a direction to bring the straight Walls of the recess against the bolt under ordinary circumstances.

On the inner end of each rock-shaft 33 of a carriage carrying such a shaft a peripherallygrooved pulley 52 is securely mounted, and the said pulley is provided with lugs 53 in the bottom of this groove, and upon each side of each supporting-arm a peripherallygrooved guide-pulley or idler 54 is journaled, the two pulleys being opposite one another, and between these pulleys and the inner end of each arm a yoke 55 is firmly attached to the arm, the yokes being of different heights in order that a link belt 56, passed over a pulley 52 and over the guide-pulleys 54, may be passed over tightening pulleys 57 and guided to the drum-wheel appertaining to that particular carriage. The tighteningpul leys 57, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are mounted upon a slide 58, having movement longitudinally upon a yoke 55, each slide being provided with a set-screw 59. Thus by passing the slide 58 outward or inward along a yoke the belt with which it is connected may be brought under proper tension, and when such tension is secured the. slide is fastened in position. IVhen the pedals are worked, the drums are carried around until the straight walls of the notches or recesses in the hubs of the drum-wheels are engaged by the bolts, and force then ez'ierted propels the machine.

If some of the carriages are unoccupied, or if the occupants of one carriage wish to stop working for awhile, the drum-wheels will be carried around on the arms supporting those carriages, so that no unnecessary work is done in turning the idlers and pedal-shafts in the empty carriages, and no occupants of any carriage can in any way retard the motion of the machine by holding back.

An organ E is supported in any approved manner upon the mast, below the drum, and the said organ may be driven and preferably is driven from the ring 20, connecting the rotary and supporting arms C. This is accomplished in the following manner: A bracket is secured to the mast, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, and in this bracket a supportingarm 61 is adjustably fastened, provided with a collar at top and bottom. In the upper collar a driving-shaft 62 is journaled, carrying at one end a friction-wheel 63 and at its opposite end a pulley 64, the friction-wheel being brought in engagement with the under surface of the ring 20. The pulley 64 is connected by a belt 65 with a pulley 66 upon a shaft 67 located in the lower collar, and this shaft likewise carries a large pulley 68, connected by a belt 69 with the driving-pulley of the organ. The hanger or supporting arm 61, having sliding connection with the bracket 60, is controlled in its upward movement by a spring 69a, connected with its lower end, and by adjusting the tension of this spring the degree to which the friction-roller may engage with the ring 2O may be regulated, or the said roller may be carried entirely out of engagement with the ring.

It will be understood that any one or all of the spring-controlled bolts 42 may be disengaged from the hubs of the drum-wheels for the purpose of stopping the machine by simply attaching cords or levers to the said bolts, capable of operation from any point below the drum.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-4 1. In a carousel, a mast comprising a plurality of tubes, a top coupling provided with sockets, a bottom coupling provided with sockets, and a center coupling in the form of a plate provided with openings for the passage of the tubes, and with a marginal rib or ange on its upper surface, in combination with a drum resting upon the said central coupling the rib or iiange of the said coupling projecting into the bore of the drum, substantially as described.

2. In a carousel, the combination, with a IOO IIO

mast, a ring held to revolve around the n1ast, arms connected with the said ring, and carriages pendent from said arlns, a cap pivoted upon the mast, and braces connecting the cap with the said arms, of a hub secured to the mast, wheels held to revolve around the said hub, having the inner faces of their hubs provided with beveled recesses, spacing-rings intervening between the hubs of the wheels, sprii1gcontrolled latches carried bythe spacing-rings and adapted to enter the recesses in the wheel-hubs, fastening devices whereby the spacing-rings are held in stationary connection with the hub, driving-shafts located in the carriages, and belts connected with said shaft and likewise each belt with one of the Wheels, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a carousel, a multiple druin, comprising aplurality of flanged spacing-rings provided with apertured lugs and spring pressed bolts, a plurality of Wheels having inclined recesses, on the inner faces of their hubs, a top plate provided with apertured lu registering' with the lugs of the spacingrings, and bolts passing through said lugs, substantially as shown and described.

i. In a carousel, the combination with a mast, a ring around the mast, arms carried bythe said ring, and provided Wi th carriages, and means for causing the arms to turn around the mast of a bracket carried by the mast, an arni fitting loosely in the bracket, shafts mounted in each end of the arm, the upper shaft carryinga pulley at one end and a friction-Wheel at the other, and the lower shaft provided with a pulley at each end, a spring supporting the said arn1,and a belt connecting the pulleys on one end of the said shafts, the friction-wheel engaging the ring of the arins and one of the pulleys of the lower shaft beingadapted to be connected by a belt with an organ, substantially as dcscribed.

MILTON T. WESON. lVitnesses:

S. T. ARnsTRoNG, .loi-1N STILLrNGs. 

